Daviess County MO

Biography of John H. Townsend

John H. Townsend was born at Smyrna, Costa (now Kent) county, Delaware, March 16, 1843. When seven years of age his parents removed to Madison county, Indiana, and settled at Collinsville, where he lived with them until he reached the age of eighteen years, and was there educated. On leaving home in 1861 he went to Placerville, California. On his arrival there he had but six dollars. On the first day after his arrival he was employed as a clerk by B. Meacham, a dry goods merchant, at a salary of six hundred dollars per year and board, and remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William R. Cole

William R. Cole. This gentleman is a native of Missouri and was born in Grundy county, September 20, 1841. He was reared and educated in the county of his birth, and, on arriving at a suitable age; chose farming as his vocation in life. In the spring of 1868 he came to this county, where he has ever since lived, engaged in farming pursuits. He owns a splendid farm of 320 acres of well-improved land in Lincoln township, on which he and his family now reside. When the war broke out Mr. Cole enlisted, July 31, 1861, in Company D, … Read more

Biography of James V. Wilson

Was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1821. His parents, James and Polly Wilson, nee Venemen, were born in Pennsylvania and were of Scotch-Irish and German descent. They both died in Washington County, Pennsylvania; his father in 1S55 and his mother in 1869. James was reared and educated in Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-one he learned the carpenter and joiner’s trade and followed that for thirty-years. He worked in Pennsylvania until 1854, then in various places in Ohio and Illinois until 1857 when he located in Daviess County, Missouri. In 1860 he went to Pike’s Peak and remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George K. Nickell

George K. Nickell was born in this county, January 3, 1816. His father, Robert Nickell, was. a native of Virginia, and his mother, Ann Nickell, whose maiden name was Kemp, was born in Maryland. His father died in this county at the age of seventy-six years. Young Nickell was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools of this county. He has made farming his business,. and has run a threshing machine for eighteen seasons in. this county. In 1861 he went on the plains and engaged in teaming until 1865. Mr. Nickell was united in marriage, April … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. M. Dowell

H. M. Dowell is a native of Surry county, North Carolina, born July 9, 1825. His parents, Peter and Mary Dowell, were both natives of North Carolina; and his grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War. When our subject was seven years old his parents moved to Henry county, Indiana, and in 1839 to this county, where he was reared upon a farm, and thus acquired a liking for farming, which he has since made his occupation. Mr. Dowell was united in marriage, March 21, 1850, to Miss Harriet Smith. She was born in May, 1832, and died June … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac C. Minnick

Is a native of Washington County, Virginia, and was born July 24, 1815. His parents, John and Betsey McCauley Minnick, were both natives of the salve State, where they both died. He was reared to manhood upon his father’s farm, and received his education in the early schools of his native County. In 1837 he migrated to Schuyler County, Illinois, where he was united in marriage to -Miss Nancy Offield, daughter of Jesse Offield, on the 27th of September, 1838. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1841, when he removed to this County, where he has since made his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George P. Allen

George P. Allen was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, July 30, 1821. His parents, William and Caroline Allen, were both natives of the same State. He received his education in the common schools of Virginia, and began the study of civil engineering. He learned the surveyor’s art, and has been engaged principally in that business through life. For the first few years after leaving school he was engaged in the mercantile business in his native State. In 1854 he removed to Missouri and settled in Daviess county, and from 1856 to 1861 held the responsible’ position of county surveyor. In … Read more

Biography of S. S. Ryan

Samuel Simms Ryan is a native of Pulaski County, Virginia, and was born April 12, 1822. His father, John Ryan, was a native of Virginia, and, his mother, Catherine Ryan, nee Fizzier, was born in Pennsylvania. His parents moved to Clinton County, Tennessee, in 1837, and in 1839 to Campbell County, Tennessee. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and about one half of the time our subject attended school, and the other half was spent in his father’s shop learning the trade. When Samuel was about twenty-one years of age his father moved to Jacksburg, Tennessee, and here Samuel … Read more

Biography of Rev. Robert R. Witten

Rev. Robert R. Witten is one of the pioneers of the Methodist Church in Missouri. He was born October 8, 1831, in McMinn county, Tennessee, and is a son of Rev. James Witten, who was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, January 5, 1793. The parents of Rev. James Witten with their family, moved to Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee, James then being sixteen years of age and the oldest of the family, and his father being quite feeble, nearly all the work of opening up a new farm in a heavily timbered country devolved upon him; he never attended school to exceed … Read more

Biography of Samuel P. Cox

Samuel P. Cox was born in Williamsburg, Whitley county, Kentucky, December 16, 1828. In 1839 his parents, Levi and Cynthia Cox, removed to Missouri and located in the eastern part of Daviess county, now known as Jackson township, and the subject of this sketch lived at home and worked upon the farm until 1847. In the spring of that year he enlisted in company D, Captain W. H. Rogers, Oregon Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Powell, commanding, for the war with Mexico. He served until November, 1848, when he received his honorable discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Returning to the old homestead he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac M. McCue

The subject of this sketch was born in Nicholas County, Virginia, April 6, 1830. He is the son of David and Martha A. (McNull) McCue, both natives of Virginia. David McCue is still living, in Chariton County, Missouri. In 1844 Isaac M. McCue came with his parents to this County. He lived on his father’s farm until he grew to manhood. June 1, 1854, Mr. McCue was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Livingston, daughter of Dr. Livingston, one of the first settlers of Grundy County, and a representative of the County for two terms. After his marriage Mr. … Read more

Biography of Hamlet Wynn

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, November 25, 1838. He lived with his parents, William P. and Margaret H. Wynn, in his native county until his twentieth year, when he accompanied them to Missouri. They arrived in the spring of 1858 and settled on a tract of wild land in Grand River township, two miles northeast of where the town of Jameson now stands, where the subject of this sketch still lives, and his mother, with him, his father having died in 1875. His father being afflicted with the palsy, young Wynn began to work for himself when about nine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George. W. Hill Jr.

Was born in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, March 11, 1843. He is the son of William P. Hill, who married Miss Elizabeth Poage, both natives of Virginia. George W. Hill came with his parents to this County from Virginia in 18.55. He lived on his father’s farm, going to school and helping with the work, until he became of age. On the 26th of August, 1868, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Ada Leonard, daughter of Michael Leonard, both natives of Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The issue of this union was two children; viz., William L. and Fondie … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milton Ewing

Milton, son of Frank and Rebecca Ewing, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 30, 1848. He was reared in his native county, and received his education in the schools of Zanesville, Ohio. When nineteen years of age he accompanied his parents in their removal to Missouri, settling at Gallatin in 1867. He early evinced a decided interest in and preference for the law, and in 1868 began legal studies in the office of Judge R. L. Dodge, of Gallatin, continuing with Judge Dodge one year, then entered the office of Judge Samuel A. Richardson, with whom he studied until … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Cropper

Samuel Cropper was born near Manchester, England, May 12, 1831. His parents were Benjamin and Mary Cropper, also natives of England. He received his education and grew to manhood in his native country, and emigrated to the United States in May, 1853, locating in Rhode Island, where he learned the art of photographing. He has since spent some time in various States of the Union, engaged at his trade. He located in Jamesport in 1875 and has since erected a commodious gallery and built up a good patronage. Mr. Cropper was married in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, October 5, 1853, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Allen Thomas Brown

Allen Thomas Brown was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, May 22, 1850. When eight years old he came with his parents to Cass county this state, where the family settled and lived till 1863, when they again moved and settled in Daviess county. He therefore received his education partly in Cass and partly in this county. Arriving at an age to ” shift for himself” he began farming for a livelihood and continued the same till 1880, when he moved to Jamesport, where he has since been engaged in the restaurant and confectionery business. In April, 1881, he was elected … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Kemberling

A. J. Kemberling is a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of A. J. and. Catherine Kemberling, both of whom were natives of the same county. He was born March 24, 1828, and remained with his parents until he attained his twenty-first year; being engaged in farming and attending school. In 1849, he went to Seneca county, Ohio, where he spent twelve years on a farm. From that place he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, and at the end of nine years came to Daviess county and purchased a farm in Colfax township where he resided … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Neal

William Neal is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born December 5, 1817. He is the son of Caleb and Anna Miller Neal; his father being a native of Tennessee and his mother of Indiana. The early life of Mr. Neal was spent on the farm and in acquiring such education as was afforded in those times. He remained in his native town until he attained his twenty-first year when he commenced farming in Darke County, but after a few years labor removed to Adams County, Indiana, and engaged in stock-dealing and speculation for several years, when he returned to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph D. Feurt

Was born in Scioto county, Ohio, August 15, 1817. His father, Thomas Feurt, was a native of Maryland, and his mother, Mary Feurt, was born in Pennsylvania. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and at the age of seventeen learned the blacksmith trade, which was his principal business until 1870. He came to this county in 1840 and put up a shop that year in the old town of Di-Amon, which was the first blacksmith shop, north of Gallatin, in Daviess county. After four years working there he bought a farm in what is now Grand … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Briggs

Henry Briggs is a native of Scioto county, Ohio, born June 30, 1834. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Ohio. In 1868 he came to this county and settled where he now lives-then in the country where the wild grass grew high around his house, but now on the business street of Jameson. He has been street commissioner for three years, and was appointed marshal of Jameson in April, 1881. Mr. Briggs was united in marriage, February 25, 1857, to Miss Annie E. Noble, of Scioto county, Ohio, born September 7, 1836. They … Read more